Nottingham Forest moved into the Sky Bet Championship play-off positions after a 1-0 home win over Barnsley on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds would have been hoping to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season, in order to propel themselves into the top six spots after a fantastic win against Swansea last time out.

Sabri Lamouchi made two changes to the side that won by a goal to nil in South Wales last weekend, with Joe Lolley and Tiago Silva coming in for Albert Adomah and Sammy Ameobi.

Daniel Stendel's side were not a team to be underestimated, though, with the Tykes bound to be hurting after their late defeat to rivals Leeds United last weekend.

The German boss made just the one change to the side that narrowly lost to  the Whites, with Dimitri Cavare being ruled out of the clash at the City Ground - former Red Dani Pinillos making only his second league start of the campaign.

Lewis Grabban played an influential role in helping Forest pick up all three points against Swansea, setting up Alfa Semedo for his late strike after fantastic work-rate, and the 31-year-old had the game's first chance on Saturday afternoon.

In the seventh minute, Carvalho, who started on the left flank, was brought into play after a quick throw-in - the Portuguese midfielder pulled the ball back to Grabban, but the striker's shot was sliced wide.

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The hosts also had another chance to open the scoring just moments later - Silva's floated free-kick finding Joe Worrall, whose volley was put well over the crossbar - a bright start from Lamouchi's side.

In the 15th minute of the game, the City Ground rose. Not to celebrate a goal, but to celebrate the life of legendary manager Brian Clough, with Friday afternoon marking 15 years since his passing.

In that spell of applause, Barnsley finally started to threaten Forest after a below-par start to the game, however two corners in quick succession from Alex Mowatt were defended comfortably.

The best chance of the half undoubtedly fell for Grabban, though. The experienced forward was sent through on goal by Ben Watson after beating the offside trap, but a heavy touch inside the box was followed up with a scuffed shot that trickled wide.

This wasn't the first time Grabban was to find himself through on goal, either. As the half began to enter its latter stages, Grabban was put through on goal by a long-ball again, but Tykes goalkeeper Brad Collins was quick off his line to deny him.

It was very much a smash-and-grab win for the Reds last weekend with Swansea dominating possession, but the first-half against Barnsley was controlled by the Reds, as Daniel Stendel's side failed to cause any problems.

The Tykes did give Forest a wake-up call before the end of the half, though. Luke Thomas picked up a loose ball and ran at the Forest defence with pace, but despite having Mallik Wilks for support down the left-hand side, the former Derby youngster went alone, and forced a smart save out of Brice Samba.

The half-time whistle rang and both managers would have been somewhat disappointed by their team's performances in the first-half - particularly Lamouchi, who saw his side squander numerous chances, and failing to register a shot on target.

Barnsley had to improve though, and they did, creating some real problems in the opening stages of the half - Toby Sibbick curling a shot wide from the edge of the box.

There was also a big, big chance for Pinillos to grab a goal on his return to the City Ground - the full-back found himself in an advanced position in behind the defence, and his powerful shot was stopped by Samba from 10 yards.

But then, a breakthrough for the hosts. Another full-back, Matty Cash, also found himself in an advanced position after getting in behind, and his pull back was met by Ben Watson, who slammed the ball home with a side-footed first-time effort.

It had been a slow start for Forest, but their first-half performance more than deserved a goal, as Lamouchi's men went in search of a second.

They made an attacking change when Albert Adomah was brought on for Tiago Silva on the hour mark - Matty Cash found the winger on the overlap and his cross found Carvalho at the back post, but his header was put over.

That was to be Carvalho's last piece of action, as Lamouchi made another attacking change in the 69th minute - Sammy Ameobi coming on for the attacking midfielder.

Stendel then made changes himself - Conor Chaplin, Patrick Schmidt and Cameron McGeehan, replacing Cauley Woodrow, Aapo Halme and Jordan Williams with 15 minutes left to play.

The Tykes, clearly throwing themselves forward, almost levelled the scoring - Pinillos playing in Thomas down the left-hand side, who forced a fine save out of Samba once again, in the 82nd minute of the encounter.

They had another chance moments later - Schmidt glancing a header narrowly wide, after the Reds headed away the resulting corner.

Five minutes were to be added on at the end of the gam  as nerves began to jangle at the City Ground. After waves after waves of attacks, Michael Dawson was there to block Mallik Wilks close-range effort - Forest putting men on the line at the death.

But despite late Barnsley pressure, it was Forest who held on, to record back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

A much-improved effort from Barnsley in the second-half, but resilient defending from Forest ensured that they would hang on to an invaluable win.

FULL TIME: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Barnsley.